Shutter operating mechanism



Feb. 16, 1932. H. 'r. THOMAS 1,845,100

- SHUTTER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June '30. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l av fire); tar

- A d/46621 2072143 wmwww Feb. 16, 1932. H, T. THOMAS 1,845,100

SHU'PIER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 30. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheqt 2 lNVENTOF-i wmwmmm ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED, STATES.

PA ENT oF ICE- P HORACE T; THOMAS, or LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR To REC MOTOR CAR COMPANY,

or ANSIN MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN I I SHUTTER OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed .Tune 30,

cally actuating a shutter assembly in accord-V ance with variations in temperature distinguished by the ease and positive manner in which the same operates to move theshutters to their various adjusted positions. 7

With the foregoing as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the peculiar construction of'the shutter actuat ing mechanism which will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational 'viewof an automobile radiatorunit equipped with 'a shutter assembly. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a front elevational viev, of the I construction shown in Figure 2. p

F igure 4 1s a sectional V1BW taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that there is illustrated in Figure 1 an automobile radiatorunit 1O comprising'a core 11, a shell 12 inolosing the core and a V shutter assembly 13 positioned in advance of the core within" the boundaries of theradiator shell in accordance with the usual'practicei Theshutter assembly 18 is preferably of conventional "design comprising a series of blades 14 extending longitudinally of the radiator unit and having one longitudinal edge portion thereof pivotally connected to suitable vertically extending rods 15-having the upper ends thereof anchored with in a plate 16' projecting forwardly from the radiator core 11. The :blades14 are adapted to swing inwardly about the rods 15 and the opposite longitudinal edge portions thereof areoffset inwardly as at 1'? for engagement with the inner sides of the rods 15 when the bladesare in their-closed position as illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. The construction is such that the 1930. Serial no; 465,047;

rods 15 cooperate with the offset portion 17 on i i the blades to form stops for limiting outward movement of the blades. Each of the blades 14 are rovided with inwardly extending projections 18 intermediate the longitudinal edge portions thereof having the inner end portions pivotally connected as at v 19 to a bar20 extending transversely of the blades below the plate '16.

The construction is such that actuation of the bar 20 effects a movement of all of the bla'des 14 as a-unit.

For actuating the rod 20 toefiect an adjustment of the blades'14,"I provide a system of leversso arranged asto exert a maximum leverage upon the bar 20 for moving the shutters to open position. I As shown particularly in Figure 3,7the bar 20 has secured thereto adjacent one end thereof apivot 21 adapted to extend upwardly through an elongatedslot 22 formed in the plate 16 for pivotally supporting 'onee'n'd of a lever 23 havingthe opposite end thereof extending toward the opposite end of the bar and pivotally-connected as at-24 to-theinner end of to the link 25 at a point spaced from the fixed pivot 26 in the direction of the arrow 27 in Figure 2 causes the bar 20 to move transversely of the blades 14 against the action of the spring 28 which, as shown, has one end secured to the pivot 21 and the opposite end anchored upon the plate so as'to normally hold the bar in the position shown in Figure 1 ,wherein the blades 14 arein their closed positions. Movement of thebar 20 against I the action of the spring 28, as specified above, exerts a force upon the projecting portions 18 of the blades and urges thesame to open position.v I a H p In order to positively move the bar inthe manner outlined above with the least possible effort, I provide suitable toggle linkage des-. ignated generally by the reference character 29. As shown, the toggle linkage comprises a lever 31 having the forward end thereof pivotally connected as M13210 the lever'25 intermediate the pivots 24 and 26 for the latter. The inner end of the lever 31 is connected to the corresponding end of a second lever 33 as at 34 While the outer end of the lever 33 is pivotally connected to the plate 16 by means of the pivot 35. Thus, from the above description it will be observed that when a force is applied to the inner ends of the levers 31 and 33 in the direction of the arrow 36, this force is greatly multiplied at the point 24 since movement of the pivotal connection 34 produces a relatively slight movement of the pivotal point 24 and since the point 24 is connected directly to the bar by the link 23, the bar 20 will be moved to actuate the shutter with a force substantially greater than the force exerted upon the inner ends of the levers 31 and 33.

For applying a force to the inner ends of the levers 31 and 3.3, I provide a rod 37 having the forward end thereof connected to the pivot 34 and having the rear end connected as at 38 to a rock lever 39. The rock lever 39, as Will be apparent from Figure 4 of the drawings, is pivotally connected as at 40 to a second rod 41 having the rear end thereof slidably engaging a socket 42 adapted to abut a suitable thermostat- 43 for actuation thereby. The thermostat 43 is preferably arranged within the water outlet between the motor and upper radiator tank so as to be responsive to temperature variations of the motor with the result that the shutters are automatically actuated in accordance with temperature changes of the motor.

Referring now to the operation of the mechanism, described above, and assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 wherein the blades are in their closed position, it will be apparent that as the temperature of the motor rises, the thermetal: 43 will expand and throu' h the rod 41, hell crank lever 39 and rod 37 applies a force to the ivotal connection 34 in the direction oft-lie arrow 36. As pointed out above, a force applied to the toggle 30 in the direction of the arrow 36 operates the rod 90 through the levers and 23 to move the rod with a steadily increasing force against the action of thespring 28 which normally telds to resist opening of the shutter blades 14. If, for any reason, the temperature of the motor lowers, the thermostat will contract releasing any force upon the inner ends of the links 31 and 33 permitting the spring 28 to move the shutter blades 14 toward closed position. In this connection it is to be noted that the extent of movement ofthe Shutter blades 14 toward open or closed position by the toggle linkage or spring 28 depends upon the movement of the thermostat 43 which in turn is controlled by the temperature of the engine.

What I claim as my invention 1. A shutter unit for automobile radiators and the like comprising, a movable shutter, a member for actuating said shutter, and means operatively connecting said member to the shutter including toggle linkage arranged to actuate the shutter upon operation of the member with a force substantiall greater than the force applied to said men] 1'.

2. A shutter unit for automobile radiators and the like comprising, a plurality of independently mounted shutter blades, a member operatively connected to said blades for operating the same as a unit, a pair of pivotally connected links having the opposite ends respectively pivotally connected to said member and to a fixed support, toggle linkage comprising a pair of pivotally connected levers having the opposite ends thereof respectively connected to a fixed support and to one of first-mentioned levers intermediate the ends thereof, and means for actuating said toggle linkage to etfect an operation of said shutter operating member.

3. Shutter operating mechanism of the class described comprising, a shutter operating bar, a pair of articulated levers having their free ends pivotally connected respectively to said bar and a fixed support, toggle linkage having the free end of one of the links pivotally connected to a fixed support and the free end of the other link pivotally connected to one of said levers, and means for actuating said toggle linkage.

4. Shutter operating mechanism of the class described comprising, a shutter operating bar, a pair of pivotally interconnected levers relatively angularly arranged, the free end of one of said levers being pivotally connected to said bar, the free end of the other lever being pivotally connected to a fixed support, toggle linkage having one free end thereof pivotally connected to a fixed support and the other free end thereof pivotally connected to one of said levers at a point spaced from its pivotal connection with the fixed support, and means for actuating said toggle linkage.

5. Shutter operating mechanism of the class described comprising, a shutter operating bar, a spring means for moving said bar in one direction, a lever pivotall connected to said bar, a second lever ivotal y connected to the free end of said rst lever, said second lever being arranged in an angle to said first lever and having its free end pivotally connected to a fixed support, a pair of toggle links, the free end of one of which is pivotally connected to said fixed support, the free end of the other toggle link being pivotally connected to said second lever intermediate its ends, and means for straightening said toggle links to rock said second lever and through said first lever to actuate said shutter operating bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HORACE T. THOMAS. 

